How do I clean my liquid cooling rig (Gigabyte 3D Mercury chassis)?

[GundamF91]

I bought the Gigabyte 3D Mercury chassis last time this year, it's a great rig, except I have no idea how to clean this "fish bowl". I think the liquid needs to be cleaned since the water isn't as clear as before, might be some algae growth or something. Do I pull mainboard and everything, and then just dump out the water. Are there other special process for cleaning the liquid cooling system? Just thought I'd check before making mess of everything.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Tubing does fog up eventually.

If you want to clean your loop though just drain all the liquid out (you can leave your components in the case), then remove the water cooling components. You probably can't pull everything out connected, I'm sure some of the tubing would have to be cut/disconnected.

I don't remember the layout of this case, but when draining out the water, you want the open portion (drain) of the loop to be physically lower than the other components. This forces the water out.

Once everything is out, flush all the components with boiling water a few times. After that soak your water blocks and radiator in isopropyl alcohol or vinegar for 15-30min. Flush with distilled water a few times.

Everything should be pretty clean by then.

Once you put everything together, either use PTnuke (petra's tech shop) or a silver coil (petra's tech shop) and pure distilled water. You should have no growth problems.

 

[aigomorla]

PICTURES!

or the term..

"The blind leading the blind"

Comes into play.

 

[GundamF91]

Thanks. I was trying to figure out how to drain this thing. Here are the relevant pics, my rig is exactly the same. It looks like I could leave the board in there as long as I'm careful with where the liquid flows.


http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...abyte/3DMercury/3.html

http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...abyte/3DMercury/4.html

 

[aigomorla]

that doesnt really help me...

But from the looks of it...

Your easiest method would be to pull the cpu block off the mount first..
Take a bucket and open the tubing of the cpu block while under a bucket.

And then drain that way.

 

[GundamF91]

Here's the water block, it's copper and held on the tube with tension clips. I think I can take the tube and clips off, and then maybe able to soak the block in something?
http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...images/water_block.jpg

Here's the splitter of the tubing. I am using only this one tube, since i don't have another block for GPU. So it seems pretty easy in cleaning.
http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...ry/images/splitter.jpg

Does it matter if I should insert some type of tube cleaner brush into the tubes? or would rinsing do an adequate job?

Also, would boiling water hurt the mechanism? It seems most of the things are plastic and I wonder if that'll have adverse reaction to high heat.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: GundamF91
Here's the water block, it's copper and held on the tube with tension clips. I think I can take the tube and clips off, and then maybe able to soak the block in something?
http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...images/water_block.jpg

Here's the splitter of the tubing. I am using only this one tube, since i don't have another block for GPU. So it seems pretty easy in cleaning.
http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...ry/images/splitter.jpg

Does it matter if I should insert some type of tube cleaner brush into the tubes? or would rinsing do an adequate job?

Also, would boiling water hurt the mechanism? It seems most of the things are plastic and I wonder if that'll have adverse reaction to high heat.

Didn't realize there was that much plastic in it.

Is that splitter even necessary? Seems like it might be sorta restrictive and pointless. However you could also use it to drain some fluid. Hook a tube up to it leading to a bucket or something and open one of those connections.

 

[thilanliyan]

I used to have a Gigabyte kit (exact same rad/block as this case) and the plastic top on the CPU block started cracking where it was screwed into the copper so watch out for that. Also...damn mixing of metals with the Al rad and Cu block!!!

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
I used to have a Gigabyte kit (exact same rad/block as this case) and the plastic top on the CPU block started cracking where it was screwed into the copper so watch out for that. Also...damn mixing of metals with the Al rad and Cu block!!!

It has an Al radiator? That's could be what is causing the fogginess in the OP's loop.

When my Apogee GTX ate itself apart, my loop was very very foggy.

 

[thilanliyan]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim

Originally posted by: thilanliyan
I used to have a Gigabyte kit (exact same rad/block as this case) and the plastic top on the CPU block started cracking where it was screwed into the copper so watch out for that. Also...damn mixing of metals with the Al rad and Cu block!!!

It has an Al radiator? That's could be what is causing the fogginess in the OP's loop.

When my Apogee GTX ate itself apart, my loop was very very foggy.

I believe it does:
http://www.techpowerup.com/rev...ator_and_dual_fans.jpg

That looks to be the same rad as the one I had in my kit from before.

 

[aigomorla]

oh boy...

Where do we start then...
I really need a picture.
We need to see if you have corrosion in your loop.

 

[GundamF91]

Here's a pic, but it's hard to show what it looks like. Basically the tube was pretty transparent last year, but now it's fogged up. I dont' think there's any corrosion, at least I have not seen any debris in the tubing.

I got a good deal on the entire cooling rig and case, but now it seems air cooled would've been less hassel.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5269/img1923x.jpg

 

[aigomorla]

no it looks like you started corrosion.

It used to be clear blue but now its slightly green correct?

Pinch the tubing when the system is off.. does it feel like theres pressure?

Water isnt difficult.. its only difficult when you try to fit the word budget b4 watercooling.

Watercooling was NOT meant to be budget... either you can afford a good system or you stay on air.

 

[GundamF91]

Thanks aigomorla. It was clear blue and now it's more pale blue but there is a tint of green there. Do you know where is the corrosion from? The copper block?

I got a good deal on NewEgg buying it, but this was an expensive rig, and it was suppose to be a pretty good cooling kit.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811233021

The tubes seem Ok, I don't know if there's more pressure than there was before, but it seems fine. There are very few little bubbles there.

So what can I do now? Do I need to replace any water cooling parts? I am not sure if there are common pump parts or are they all proprietary?

 

[aigomorla]

its your rad getting eatten away from the copper block.

To be honest, cleaning your stuff is gonna be a PITA after u had corrosion.

It would be best to remove it and start all over.

At the very least, get a copper radiator.

I would recomend u draining it. First you need to uncork your res so you can allow the pressure thats built up to get released.
The pressure is from the corrosion.

Pull the cpu block out... get a bucket near it.... and then either cut the tubing or try to pull the tubing off, while under the bucket.

But you do need to do a full flush.

 

[GundamF91]

So it's the Aluminum radiator having galvanic reaction with Copper block? (bastard Galvatron is at it again)

I guess I should look either copper radiator or aluminum block.

 

[aigomorla]

its too late for the rad by now.

Its best u look for both a copper radiator, and try to clean that block.

However... i would honestly recomend you scraping the kit, and building new.